Courtesy photo
The 1964 Spaulding High School boys basketball team made the school’s lone trip to a championship, losing to Bishop Bradley, 48-46.

SHY OF half a century and Rochester basketball fans have been able to eradicate the memory of Spaulding High’s disappointing 48-46 loss to Bishop Bradley (now Trinity High school) in the 1964 Class L (now Division I ) championship game at the old Lewis Field House on the Durham campus. Bradley was a nemesis for the Red Raiders and the locals were convinced to win the school’s only title the Pioneers from Manchester would be the final roadblock.

A victory would have substantial significance for both clubs. Bradley was riding an undefeated season (23-0) entering the tournament and as the defending Class L champs. As for Spaulding, (15-5) little did they know the historical consequences of the final outcome.

During the regular season, Bradley won both meetings by scores of 69-61 and 80-72 in spite of the career-high 42-point performance by Spaulding’s senior ace Denny Hodgdon.

From the opening tip they counter-punched for 32 minutes right to the final bell- where six points was the most either team could distanced themselves. A unique aura , overtone enveloped the title match-up from second guessing to literally the vilification of one of the officials.

Spaulding’s head coach John Parker, endeavoring to bewilder, confuse Bradley’s pre-game plan, opted to position the high-scoring Hodgdon “down low” drawing double and triple coverage by the Manchester quintet. The unexpected move questioned by Rochester followers based on Hodgdon’s 23.3 points per game seasonal average and recently coming off a 42-point effort against the same outfit was vindicated as the final results would show.

Although Hodgdon would score only six points, Spaulding would keep pace with Bradley throughout on the strength of peripheral effectiveness from Dave Harkinson’s 15 points and Peter Harrity’s 14.

THE AFTERMATH. The referees were Larry Mitchell and Bill Trobec, regarded as two of the most proficient in their day. In fact , Mitchell’s experience extended to the college level. Four quarters of “down your throat” action was not to be the final chapter of this anti-climatic contest. With game-ending seconds ticking off the clock, Mitchell blew the whistle disallowing a Spaulding hoop to tie the game. Rochester fans absolutely went berserk and to this day never forgave Mr. Mitchell.

Now for the rest of the story. According to one observer who occupied one of the best “seats” in the house, a Spaulding player on the bench, unquestionably testifies that Trobec, not Mitchell, made the call. Perhaps what led to the confusion or misinterpretation from the partisan crowd was Mitchell demonstratively waving off the Spaulding bucket but was simply backing up the Trobec whistle.

The late Rochester Courier sports columnist Reggie Hurd wrote shortly after the game:

“There was ease in Mitchell’s swagger and a glint in Mitchell’s eye.

And a missile in his whistle that said ‘ paulding you will die.’

Somewhere the bands are playing, somewhere people laugh, sing and shout.

But the missile in that whistle leaves the outcome in doubt.”

RELENTLESSLY, Hurd resurrected the controversy in 1967 writing, “ Closer three years ago when they (Spaulding) went right down to the final whistle and we will never forget who tooted the whistle.” However, it was reliably ascertained that coach Parker communicated with Larry Mitchell commending his officiating.

SIX YEARS later this writer had an opportunity to sit down with Denny Hodgdon during a semester break in his sophomore year at Fairleigh Dickinson College in Teaneck, N.J. studying dentistry. Hodgdon recalled the Bradley team as the best that he ever played against or saw in high school noting the Manchester club once ran off 75 straight victories. The 1964 Pioneers were definitely the best in the state led by Mark Telge who later went to Duke, Pete DeCato over to UNH, Jeff Grenert attending Creighton University, Jeff Mullins to Providence and Dave Hardy a scholarship to Manhattan University.

Ironically, in retrospect, Hodgdon never made reference relative to the officiating or coach Parker’s game plan.

JOHN PARKER coached the Spaulding varsity from 1958 to 1965 with a won-lost record of 68-96. Born in Wells, Maine, he graduated from Wells High school, and attended Hebron (Maine) Academy for one year. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1955. While at UNH he starred in basketball and track and captained both teams. He once led the Yankee Conference in the high jump and high hurdles.

After UNH, he served a tour of duty in the Army in 1956-57 then moved to Freeport , Maine, where he coached basketball, baseball and served as the athletic director. He came to Spaulding in September of 1957, teaching civics, physical education and coached basketball and track.

In 1965 , he attended New York University and the following year accepted a guidance councilor position at Somersworth High school. Earlier in his career he did graduate work at the University of Colorado.

After a long illness, John Parker died Dec. 18, 1967 at Frisbie Memorial Hospital. He was 37 years old.

NOSTALGIA ASIDE. We faithfully focus on the fate of the 2012-13 Spaulding High Red Raiders. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!

Lee Sanfacon is a life-long Rochester resident and Lilac City sports historian.